This training session is for anyone exposed to foot hazards and required to wear foot protection on their job. We will discuss the potential foot hazards in our workplace, the foot protection you are required to use, and what you can do to prevent foot injuries.

Session Objectives

By the end of the training session, you will be able to:

• Identify foot hazards;
• Choose appropriate footwear for work tasks;
• Know the limitations of foot protection; and
• Know how to use and take care of foot protection.

Foot Injury Statistics

• According to the National Safety Council, more than 180,000 foot-related injuries occurred in a recent year.
• That equates to roughly 400 foot-related injury claims per day.
• The estimated average cost of these injuries was $6,000 each.
• In a recent year, there were 1,509 foot and toe injuries that were serious enough to require the workers to take time off from work.

Foot Hazard Review

Let’s use this training session as an opportunity to review the potential foot hazards in our workplace. These are the primary types and causes of foot injuries. We will focus on each of the topics and the specific hazards associated with our workplace in the upcoming slides.

• If you handle heavy metal parts, tools, or equipment, you might accidentally drop a heavy object on your foot. A falling object could crush your toes or the top of your foot.
• Rolling objects could crush your foot.
• Metal chips, nails, screws, or tacks could pierce the sole of your shoe.
• Live electrical components and conductors can expose you to electrical hazards.

Other Foot Hazards

Other foot hazards include:

• Slippery walking surfaces
• Wet or muddy conditions
• Hazardous chemicals
• Cold weather conditions

Falling Objects

• Protect your toes from the hazard of falling objects by wearing shoes with steel toes.
• Some work shoes also have toe caps that are made out of hard composite plastics. These must meet the same protection standards as the steel toe. Composite toe caps are also lighter, which results in a lighter shoe.
• If you are not normally faced with the hazard of falling objects, you do not need to wear shoes with toe protection. However, if occasionally your job includes tasks that expose you to falling hazards, you may want to put on a strap-on toe guard. These are often made of hard plastic or aluminum.

Metatarsal Protection

• The metatarsal, which is the upper part of the top of your foot close to the ankle, may need protection from both falling and rolling objects. Toe protection devices, such as steel-toes, do not protect your metatarsal.
• Boots are available with external metatarsal protection.
• Strap-on metatarsal guards made of aluminum or high-density plastic are also available.

Rolling Objects

• If you are exposed to rolling objects, select footwear that has good ankle protection. Ankle protection is needed when working with material-handling aids such as carts, pallet jacks, dollies, or any other item on wheels that could bang into an ankle or catch your heel and cause an injury.
• Some footwear will have a steel shank in the heel to protect the heel and the Achilles tendon from rolling objects.
• Footwear may also have steel shanks going up the sides of the ankles to prevent the ankles from being twisted or otherwise damaged by rolling objects.
• You may also require toe and possibly metatarsal protection.

Puncture Resistant

• Puncture-resistant shoes help prevent sharp objects such as nails, glass, and metal chips from penetrating your foot, reducing possible puncture wounds.
• Puncture-resistant soles are made of hard and dense materials.
• Some work boots have steel shanks in the soles that prevent sharp objects from penetrating to the foot.

Slip Resistant

• Proper footwear can play a large role in preventing slip-related injuries. Remember, street shoes or athletic shoes are not intended to provide slip resistance in the work environment. For example, shoes that provide good traction on a basketball court may not provide good traction in a work environment that is subject to slip hazards from water, oil, or chemicals.
• Slip-resistant shoes will have soft rubber soles that grip the surface of the floor. However, the soles will not be too soft so that they would wear down quickly.
• The soles of slip-resistant shoes have treads with channels that carry the water, oil, chemical, or other contaminant out from under the shoe, which will allow the ridges on the sole to come into firm contact with the floor.
• Remember that wearing slip-resistant shoes does not eliminate the possibility of slipping. You must still recognize slip-related hazards and walk carefully in areas that have wet floors.

Electrical Hazards

• If your job requires you to work around live electrical components and conductors, wear nonconductive shoes.
• Footwear that is labeled nonconductive is designed to reduce the potential for electrical shock.
• The soles can be exposed to open circuits of 600 volts or less, when in dry conditions.

Electro-Static Dissipative

• Shoes rated as electro-static dissipative (ESD) reduce static electricity.
• These shoes conduct an electrical charge from the body to the ground.
• They protect the wearer from electrical hazards due to excessively low electrical resistance.
• Wear these types of shoes in the presence of flammable or explosive materials.
• Also wear these shoes when handling sensitive electronic equipment.

Conducive Shoes

• Conductive shoes are designed to minimize static electricity.
• They reduce the possibility of igniting volatile chemicals or explosives, such as those found at gunpowder factories or printing plants.
• Conductive shoes discharge static electricity from the worker’s body into grounded floors.
• Never wear conductive shoes near electrical hazards.

Chemical Resistance

• If you are exposed to liquid chemicals, acids, or caustic liquids that you may have to walk through or that could splash onto your feet, you should wear chemical-resistant boots.
• The boot selected should be made of material that will resist the chemical you are exposed to. There is no boot material that provides protection from all chemicals.
• Boots can be made of rubber, PVC, neoprene, or vinyl.

Wet or Muddy Conditions

• If you work in wet or muddy conditions you should have foot protection to keep your feet dry and in good condition.
• Basic rain boots made of PVC or rubber will work for the conditions.

Cold Conditions

You need footwear with special insulated liners when working in:

• Freezing outdoor conditions
• Refrigerated environments

Foot Hazards and Footwear – Any Questions?

• Are there questions about foot hazards and the different footwear features that will protect against those hazards?

Capabilities and Limitations

• Foot protection should be designed according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z41-1991, which is the standard that all protective footwear must meet in order to be used in the workplace.
• Safety footwear manufacturers provide tags and labels that inform you of the footwear’s intended purpose. For example, the tag might indicate that the footwear is slip resistant, protects from falling objects, or protects from electrical hazards.
• Never assume that the shoe will also protect against a hazard that is not specifically identified on a tag.

Comfort and Fit

• Just like your everyday footwear, when selecting work shoes, it is important that they fit properly and are comfortable, especially if you are going to spend 8 to 12 hours a day in them. Lightweight footwear will reduce fatigue. Make sure boots fit snugly around the heel and ankle when laced up. Leave plenty of wiggle room for your toes. Try on work shoes after your work shift when your feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum size.
• Shoes that do not fit properly could contribute to musculoskeletal disorders such as plantar fasciitis and heel pain from heavy heel impact and chronic stress in the heel area.
• Ankle, knee, and possible low back pain are also common when there is excessive strain on the weight-bearing skeletal system.
• All sorts of insoles are available on the market today. Soft, cushion, and gel insoles only provide short-term relief. Because they are soft, these products cannot stabilize the foot and just collapse as the foot and ankle go through their normal range of motion. They do not provide the needed support.
• Prefabricated over-the-counter orthotics can be purchased for a reasonable price. They support and control the normal collapse of the foot. They can provide the arch support that is needed but might be missing in many types of foot protection.

Cleaning Footwear

• Keep your footwear clean. Brush off excessive dust and debris.
• Spray mud off your work shoes with water.
• Decontaminate chemical-resistant shoes after each use.
• Before storing your work shoes, allow them to dry.

Storing Footwear

• Clean footwear before storing. Do not leave overnight while still contaminated with oils, chemicals, or other work debris.
• Store work boots in a location that protects them from dirt and undue exposure to liquid chemicals or chemical vapors.
• Store them so they can maintain their natural shape to prevent unnecessary damage. Do not just toss them into the bottom of your locker.

Inspecting Footwear

• Inspect your foot protection before each use for signs of damage or wear that could inhibit the protection the work shoe is supposed to provide.
• Check toe and metatarsal protection, as well as other steel shanks, to make sure they are in good condition.
• Chemical-resistant and waterproof footwear should be checked for holes, tears, or cracks.
• Soles, especially slip-resistant or puncture-resistant, should be checked daily for excessive wear.
• Discard damaged or defective footwear.

Limitations, Use, and Care – Any Questions?

• Are there questions about the limitation, use, and care of protective footwear?

Key Points To Remember

• Know the foot hazards in your workplace
• Wear footwear with appropriate protective features for the job
• Know the capabilities and limitations of protective footwear
• Check comfort, fit, and support of footwear
• Clean, store, and inspect footwear